Hebe topiaria - Topiarist's hebe

Hebe topiaria is a variety of bushy veronica attractive for its highly sculptural habit. It forms a small bush that naturally creates a dome of foliage, broader than it is tall. Its very fine and evergreen, grey-green folage, is ornamental in every season. At the end of spring, short spikes of small white flowers appear, well-matched to the vegetation. Easy to cultivate in most well-drained soils, this species is notably more resistant to cold than others and also tolerates coastal climates.

Bush veronicas were once part of the Veronica genus but are now grouped within the Hebe genus. This genus, long classified within the Scrophulariaceae, is now included in the Plantaginaceae family, alongside wild herbs like Plantain and also ornamental plants such as the magnificent Siberian Veronica (Veronicastrum sibiricum), with its oversized floral spikes.
There are around a hundred species of Hebe, the vast majority of which are native to New Zealand, with others coming from southern Australia or Tasmania. The first bush veronica (Hebe elliptica) was introduced to Europe in 1775 following an expedition by the famous Captain Cook.
Originating from New Zealand, Hebe topiaria has been awarded a prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) for its ornamental qualities. It is a botanical species of good hardiness (-12°C to -15°C) and has a relatively significant growth rate compared to others, as in 5 years of cultivation, it will reach approximately 1 m in height and 1.20 m in spread. At maturity, after 10 years, if the soil and climatic conditions are suitable, it could even grow to 1.20 m with a width of 1.50 m. The bush naturally adopts a very regular hemispherical habit, even without pruning. This highly geometric silhouette is particularly valued in contemporary gardens, where structure takes precedence over flowers. The fine stems of a chartreuse green are adorned with a multitude of small elliptical leaves, with pointed tips, measuring around one centimetre in length. Their colour is stunning, ranging between moss green and grey-green, enhancing the stylish appearance of the plant and exuding a sense of serenity. The leaves are opposite, decussate, meaning that each node rotates 90° relative to the previous one. When viewed from the front, the branches display leaves that form a cross. Aligned one behind the other, they appear almost overlapping due to the short internodes.
From June until July, the plant produces a charming flowering, albeit sometimes sparse. Spikes of 3 cm in length then form, made up of small pure white flowers. Their colour harmonises beautifully with that of the leaves, giving this Veronica a pleasant and tasteful romantic touch.

Hebe topiaria is a true botanical sculpture with an almost perfect design, ideal for dressing a border at the foot of a hedge, adding character to a large rockery or bringing a touch of distinction to a flowerbed. Its distinctive silhouette provides form contrasts when paired with columnar plants, such as Juniperus scopulorum 'Blue Arrow', a fastigiate Virginia Juniper, whose bluish foliage will perfectly complement that of your Hebe. A specimen of Viburnum tinus 'Spirit' will allow you to enjoy pale pink flowering throughout the winter. You can prune this Laurustinus into a cone or any shape you prefer to accentuate the geometric aspect of your scene. A topiary of Ilex crenata 'Convexa', a small holly with fine evergreen non-thorny foliage, will fit into the same spirit. And to animate these almost too perfect forms, add a different element with a specimen of Loropetalum chinense 'Pipa's Red', a superb bush with an irregular habit that you should not prune. Let it add a different form with its tousled appearance and its purple-bronze foliage that will create a subtle contrast of colours among the other plants.